This blog entry is a companion to the Behind the Sounds Triplicity video I released on Youtube. I just wanted to go a little more in depth with how I designed the particular sounds for the Green Level Guardian Platform in the game. This platform has 3 main sequences: The Tremor, The Outer Structure, and The Inner Stucture.

The Tremor:

The tremor sequence is composed of a library earthquake sound effect, coupled with the sound of boiling water that I recorded. To add more depth to the water aspect of this sequence I chopped my water boiling recording in to 3 separate files.

I then layered the three sounds together and processed with some pitch shifting to give the sound effect a deeper sound.

The Outer Structure:

For this sequence I wanted to capture the effect of a physical object rising out of water. I tried manually pulling serval objects out of a pot of water but I wasn't satisfied with the result. I then experimented with placing an upside down cup into a pot of water. When I let go of the cup, the effect of air escaping, and water entering the empty cavity caused the cup to flip over. The sound of the cup partially breaking the surface of the water and the bubbles created the sound I was looking for. After the Outer Structure breaks the surface of the water in the sequence, I felt that dragging a weight on carpet as well as pouring water in a tub would be best to represent the sound of the structure rising up against the water. I then applied similar layering and pitching techniques to add more depth. To close the sequence I added an airlock sound effect for a pronounced ending.

The Inner Structure:

For the last sequence I wanted there to be a physical as well as an ethereal element. For the physical aspect of the inner platform rising, I wanted to capture friction between the Outer Structure and Inner Platform so I used a weight dragging against concrete. The ethereal element of the inner platform rising, is the sound of air being blown through a bottle layered with an atmospheric synth pad. I felt that this added a sense of anticipation and mystery. The platorm locking into place is the sound of a closing door with the pitch adjusted.